A total of 19 applications have been lodged for the 10 slots on what will be Russia’s second DTT multiplex.

Quoted by Vedomosti, Vladimir Pikov, a representative of Rozkomnadzor, which is holding the contest, refused to name the bidders.

However, they are known to include Gazprom Media (TNT), ProfMedia (MTV, 2×2 and TV3), CTC Media (CTC, Domashny and Peretz), National Media Group (Ren TV), Doschd, O2TV, Komsomolskaya Pravda and YUTV (Muz TV).

The winners of the contest will be announced next month and Rozkomnadzor has already indicated that federal FTA services will not be favoured over cable and satellite delivered channels.

Each will have to sign a 10-year contract with RTRS, the multiplex operator, and pay carriage fees of $30 million (€23.4 million) a year.